Kelli at Carnegie

It is too late and I am a bit too tired to give this extraordinary concert all the attention it deserves. Others will certainly want to weigh in. It was the something special that you would expect from this talented, warm and intelligent woman. It seems like her entire extended family was present, many in the first tier box closest to the stage, and she made no apologies for including them in some way in her show, for example, in singing a song that she had written for her young daughter..

Early on, after singing "This Nearly Was Mine," one of at least five songs she performed from her recent album, she credited Sondheim for his help and advice in the time before she broke through with Piazza. One piece of advice was to sing more songs written for men. In his honor she then sang "Finishing the Hat," also from her last album.

Also early on she praised Barbara Cook for all the help and advice and support she had received from her in the days before stardom and Tony nominations. Then Ms. Cook came on to the stage, sadly in a wheel chair and without much ability to sing left, but gladly in the enormous ovation that came from the audience.

About forty minutes into the concert, Kelli introduced her husband, Greg Naughton, and they sang (and danced to) a song I believe she said was one of their favorites, although not known widely. Then Mr. Naughton's two band mates were introduced and they played a song.

At this point the cynical New Yorker might be thinking that she was going to do ninety minutes at most and she was spending twenty minutes of it plugging her husband's band, which has yet to receive recognition similar to her own. Fear not. Kelli's concert was two hours and fifteen minutes in length, with her on the stage every minute. And the three members of Naughton's band and Kelly stepped forward to the front of the stage, away from the audio equipment and, as Kelli said, to show off the great hall for what it was known for, let go in four part unamplified harmony.

The biggest surprise was reserved for the second half, when Kelli told again the story of the University of Oklahoma and Florence Birdwell and the latter's appearance at the Tony awards with two pupils nominated for the award. She praised Kristin for all the help and support and guidance that she had received when she was new to New York and further stated that at one of the early gatherings of the Tony nominees Kristin had come over and spoken in her ear, "This one's going to you." After a short chat, the two of them sang one of the night's musical highlights, what else but "Oklahoma" to an audience clap-along.

Here I'll leave off for now. Anyone following me who thinks that I made a mistake in my description is probably right and feel free to correct, not that anyone here would need my permission.

Kristin was posting pictures on her Instagram when she was backstage, I love the amount of support and love they have for each other! I wish I could've been there

And, yes, I wiped away tears more than once.

The "hoot" that Mike referred to was the 7 minute comedic tour de force "They Don't Let You in the Opera (If You're a Country Star)" on the last album which traces the story of a woman who had become a country star against her will while really aspiring to the Met, and how she overcame the prejudice of the Met against anything country in a very unusual way. Kelli put on a cowboy hat for this one.

Kelli also revealed to the audience that she was suffering from laryngitis. I would never had noticed. At the post-concert reception she said that it had only affected her low notes - her high Cs were not affected.

If any part of the night was a little disappointing, it was in the area in which I was already expecting disappointment: the post-concert reception. I was pretty happy at somehow being one of the subscribers invited to attend the reception, which promised to deliver Ms. O'Hara to the reception room a half hour after the end of the concert ready to chat with those in the room. I just couldn't see her circulating around the rather small room for 30 or 40 minutes stopping to greet us and have a few words.

The Hall had expected the concert to end at 9:30, after which Kelli would change clothes and spend some time at the reception. The reality was that the concert had ended at 10:15, Kelli was tired and had her whole extended family in attendance, including her two young children. She stood at the door to the room, still in her gown, and took compliments and answered questions for 5 or 10 minutes and then was gone. A consolation was that I was standing right next to her, and I'm sure she was wearing some kind of heels underneath the gown. If not for the heels, she would not have been taller than me.

Memo to Carnegie Hall -- when you said that light refreshments would be served, I was not expecting caviar and shrimp. But popcorn and potato chips?

Review and Photos from the News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/kelli-o-hara-shares-carnegie-hall-solo-debut-family-friends-article-1.2852160

I flew into town for this concert and boy was I anything but disappointed. What a glorious evening! The biggest highlights for me were This Nearly Was Mine, To Build A Home, The Light In The Piazza, Make Someone Happy, and Make Our Garden Grow.

It was one of the very best events I've ever witnessed in NYC. Still pinching myself I was able to experience this glorious evening!

Can't really say much more than what was said above. It was a glorious evening. I don't think she has ever sung "The Light in the Piazza" as well as she did on Saturday night. Just hearing the opening chords got me teary

Every single time you thought the concert was sadly coming to an end, she just kept going and going and delighting us with more. There was a tremendous amount of love in that room.

The concert sounds magical. She was in LA about 2 weeks ago, but I was out of town. Aside from the 2 guest stars, assume it was the same set. How great to hear the songs from BRIDGES and PIAZZA again!

Did anyone catch Kelli's 2-episode arc on MASTERS OF SEX? Second part aired Sunday evening. It was a beautiful performance -- she played Bill Master's college sweetheart who haven't seen each other in 30 years. The scene in the hotel was devastating when she and Bill (Michael Sheen) realize that she never received his letter proposing marriage.

She never disappoints! I'll look forward to hearing about it.

A little anecdote. As I was leaving my seat, I overheard two ladies behind me complained, saying that "too much chatter ... who cares about her family" and "too much modern music"!!! I was this close to make snarky remarks back, but since I was in cloud nine and full of gratittude, I decided to let it go. It's just so disheartening to hear that. Kelli gave so much that night, and yet it was still not enough to some.